A QUARTER of a million home owners would see the value of their properties fall if the federal government approves an expansion of development restrictions under the flight path.

The dire forecast by the property industry – sections of which believe house prices could tumble by 10 per cent – has been sparked by the revelation that the National Airports Safeguarding Advisory Group is debating whether to revise the way aircraft noise restrictions apply. The group will report to the federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony Albanese, next year.

Minutes of committee meetings, obtained under freedom of information laws by the Urban Taskforce, which represents leading property developers, state there is a move to dump the current measure, known as the Australian Noise Exposure Forecast (ANEF).

If an alternative system known as N70=10 is adopted, restrictions that forbid private housing developments in areas close to the airport would be expanded to encompass a further 93 square kilometres of the metropolitan area.

The world’s largest commercial real estate services firm, CB Richard Ellis, maintains a ”financial impact” would be felt in suburbs including Coogee and Pagewood in the city’s east, Drummoyne and Ashfield in the inner west, and Burwood, Rhodes and Rosehill in the west, if the government overturns the aircraft noise system.

The company estimates between 170,000 and 230,000 homes would be affected, based on 2006 Census data, but says the figure could be higher.

The report states that ”the financial impact on existing home owners would vary but some of the most immediate impacts could be as follows:

Decreased ‘marketability’ to properties designated within a ‘noise-affected’ area.

Reductions in property values due to the impact of being in a ‘noise-affected’ area.

Increased sales periods due to the ‘marketability’ impacts.

Reduction in desirability of investment properties by tenants and a corresponding potential reduction in rental income.”

CBRE also raised the prospect of ”negative changes” to the demographics of the suburbs affected, with cheaper rents and increased costs associated with renovating existing properties to comply with higher noise requirements.

The chief executive of the Urban Taskforce, Chris Johnson, a former government architect, said: “This could lead to thousands of existing homes becoming devalued through having an unacceptable noise zone listed on their land title.”

A letter from Mr Albanese sent in May to the NSW Planning Minister, Brad Hazzard, said the government was keen to avoid any ”sensitive development under flight paths”, specifically where residents are exposed to more than 60 decibels – the key noise level associated with the N70=10 measure.

Any overhaul could also threaten major developments such as the 20,000-home Green Square development and further housing around Olympic Park and Rhodes, potentially undermining the NSW government’s metropolitan plan to increase housing density.

A spokeswoman for Mr Albanese said while the minister could not comment on what the committee might propose before it reports, no changes were afoot.

”As the government stated in its 2009 Aviation White Paper, it will retain the current aircraft noise system in airport master plans for planning around leased federal airports.”

The state government is more concerned. Mr Hazzard said in a statement: “I have only been given preliminary information from the federal government and have to clarify whether or not the federal government is proposing these changes for Greenfield as well as infill sites. Obviously if it is for infill (established areas) it does present problems, particularly for cities like Sydney. Some of the areas in high demand in Sydney may get caught up in this regulatory change – so we will be working with the federal government on this issue.”

We have sent the below corespondence to others along with other information. Randwick Council Mayor / General Manager / Local MP Mr Daley, At least one of them needs to be our voice in your group the Sydney Airport Community Forum.

We must have a representative from the South East Ward area on the Sydney Airport Community Forum committee. Its the right thing to do

Hi Members of Parliament, Mayors, Ladies and gentlemen, We need you to be our voice. People are asking for you to do what you can to help us.

Mr MP Michael Daley, Mr Mayor , Mr General Manager Ray Brownlee, We need for you both to be a part of what ever working group is put in place to protect our environment, in this case to become members of the Sydney Airports Community Forum (SACF) we need for Council, Mayor, General Manager, to be our voice to have a say, to protect our environment As our state local Mp, Mayor of Randwick City Council, General Manager of Council, I ask you all to act on behalf of members of your electorate living in Matraville, Malabar, Chifley, La Perouse, Little Bay and Philip Bay and surrounding areas throughout the Randwick City Council area who are suffering from increased unnecessary aircraft noise. We want you to be a part of the airport community forum, We need for you to have a say for us the people who are greatly effected. Please see email below sent by a local resident regarding concerns.

Comment from local

Mayor Murray Matson for Randwick Council and Michael Daley as local rep for Maroubra must/Need become members of the Sydney Airports Community Forum (SACF). People can attend meetings without being a member but can only speak or put forward motions or defend motions if you are a member. Currently neither are members at this forum which is the chief official way to influence Sydney Airports regarding aircraft noise.

The Forum is under the jurisdiction of Transport minister Albanese and for some reason he seems unwilling for Randwick Council or Maroubra to be a member. The other state members from Heffron, Marrickville and Sydney are represented as are many of the other councils affected by airport noise.

SACF meetings only happen every 3 months and the next one is scheduled on 9 Sept. We need for the issue of membership for both these parties to be pushed at this meeting. It will be another 3 months before they are able to represent us even if membership is accepted.

You can read my letter as to the issue I want brought up, but you don’t need to push that issue, just the issue of representation for the whole area!

This is what has been said. We are people Communities who want a good future for the elderly, our kids, mums and dads, all efected . Its been said many times we will all soon suffer permanantly from Industrial deathness due to the exssesive noise. We need help, we need infrastructure to deal with these problems which will effect our health, We need a second airport to ease the pressure. WE NEED HELP. For now as per the comment from a local in the area

Mr Mayor Matson for Randwick Council and Michael Daley as local rep for Maroubra, General Manager Randwick Council Ray Brownlee must / Need to become members of the Sydney Airports Community Forum (SACF). We look forward to you becoming our voice.

Local community of Matraville and sourounding areas, Tell us your thoughts come to you Matraville Precinct meetings, Share your thoughts and ideas. We are community strong, protect our environment.

Comment from Local

Solution. Noise to residents could be significantly reduced if jet aircraft adhered more strictly to the designated departure flight path for 16L which is meant to track through the centre of the Botany Bay heads over water. This flight path is in accordance with the Sydney Airports Long Term Operating Plan (LTOP) which specifically requests that aircraft “ should be maximised over water and non residential land” whenever possible. The LTOP also uses the wording “where an overflight of residential areas cannot be avoided noise is shared between communities.” In this case the noise nuisance CAN be avoided with flights flying out through the centre of the heads with the only detriment being to the fish.

History. This has only been a recent problem in the past few years. Previously, jet planes departing from 16L have flown through the centre of the heads causing much more acceptable noise levels.

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